December 31, 2018

Ended the year with a good email from Mason -

"We also got some news. I have a new companion! I'm still in Little Rock but there was an emergency transfer because some other missionaries were struggling so I'm here with my good friend Elder Thrasher. I'm super excited for these next couple weeks and it should be way good. We're gonna work harder than ever and start off the new year with a bang!"

He also mentioned finishing the musical tributes which he loved.  I asked him about Elder Seastrand being there because he's in a different zone and he said, "He just came cause he can sing! He's got the voice of an angel!"  I just laughed.

 (Seastrand, Draper, Andersen, Thrasher - reunited from the Cabot days.)

December 30, 2018

Having such a good time hanging out with the Randalls over the break.  Kenz even came with me to visit my parents.

December 29, 2018

D and I had an awesome little getaway to Moab:

Double arch.

Gilibertos - no me gusta.

Hot chocolate!

Watching “Terminal” chilling at the motel. 

Drive to Monument Valley to see nothing but snow and fog covering buttes. 

Park avenue. Love this hike!

Milt’s drive inn.

More hot chcolate. 

Awesome hike to jeep arch with an amazing vast view from inside the arch.

December 25, 2018

Merry Christmas! Talking to Mason was awesome. I just love hearing his laugh. We had a good day being together.

December 24, 2018

Finished the Book of Mormon challenge from president Nelson in October. Awesome. I loved this challenge. It reminded me that our Savior is just and merciful.

Email from Mason -

This week was basically only raking leaves and teaching lessons. Which I guess are kinda some of the best parts of missionary work so I can't complain. We raked so many leaves though. For those of you who don't know, there are on average about 97 trees per backyard here in Arkansas. If you do the math, that equals a lot of leaves. And guess who are crazy enough to offer to rake them? That's right, the missionaries! So we raked about 3 tons of leaves and had a good time doing it. 

This week, my invitation would just be to remember Christ more in your lives. Being as it is Christmas, it is the perfect time to do so. We are to "always remember him" so I would challenge everyone to try to do that this Christmas week.

December 23, 2018

Christmas sacrament meeting was awesome. Singing in the choir and enjoying the talks and music was a wonderful pre Christmas sabbath. Christmas lights at Temple Square topped off the Sabbath.

President Uchtdorf - First, rejoice in the birth of our Savior. We celebrate the birth of the Son of God, the Creator, our Messiah. We rejoice that the King of kings came to earth, was born in a manger, and lived a perfect life. When Jesus was born, the joy in heaven was so great it could not be contained, and angelic hosts parted the veil, proclaiming unto shepherds “good tidings of great joy, … praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

December 22, 2018

Oh Kanab. You served your purpose of getting us together. Coral pink sand dunes. Way fun. Sand as “cold as lake water” in some spots. Other spots just right. Rylie falling flat was kind of funny. Wire Pass was a great little hike with a cool slot. I mean it’s always great to sit on red rock with your family and chat and eat lunch. Toadstools were overrated and Horseshoe bend was a crazy madhouse but still we smiled and laughed. Pizza is a great end to a day. We were able to watch skyscraper and Meg and some watched a lord of the rings. “Who farted?” was said many, many times. We found a new fun game in Quix. Also Kenzie sniffing after she farted and then saying - well I needed to know if it stunk - had Ry and I laughing and laughing. Huntress Canyon was a good before drive hike. Cool light sand color that contrasted the red rock. Good stop at my parents. Don’t forget carbon nachos in Fillmore and the amazing sunset in Kanab.